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Ms sign Adam Kennedy to a Minor League Deal

Multiple sources are tweeting that the Ms have signed 2B Adam Kennedy to a minor league deal. You may remember Kennedy as the Angels’ Howie Kendrick placeholder of choice from the early part of last decade. What you probably don’t remember offhand is that from 2001-2005, Kennedy averaged 2.8 WAR per season, holding his own at the plate while providing excellent 2B defense.

Now 35 (literally now – his birthday is today), Kennedy is coming off a pretty abysmal season for the Nationals. But then again, he is also only two seasons removed from posting a .337 wOBA for the A’s in 2009. As Dave is fond of reminding us, we really have no idea how to tell when an older player is done, and when he’s merely having an isolated bad year. If Kennedy still has something in the tank this could be a nice little zero-risk pickup. If he doesn’t, or if Ackley forces the Ms’ hand early in the 2011 season, the team can cut him loose. No harm, no foul.

In news that probably only I care about, this also makes Luis Rodriguez’s chances of making the team out of ST that much more remote.

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Comments

30 Responses to “Ms sign Adam Kennedy to a Minor League Deal”

Mousse on
January 10th, 2011 2:43 pm

Don’t sign that lease, Tui.

MrZDevotee on
January 10th, 2011 3:03 pm

And the logjam extends to Tacoma, where Tui and Mangini will take part in a special Ultimate Fighting Championship every Friday Night at Emerald Queen Casino to see who starts at 3B the next week! (Making that up, naturally.)

Does anybody have any idea what we’re doing for a backup plan at 1B? I’m betting on Smoak to succeed, but what if not? And who spells him when he needs a game off?

Last year at various times we had 5 Major Leaguers who could play the position (Kotchman, Smoak, Branyan, Lopez, Sweeney), but there’s a bit of a dirth now that we’re down to 1.

The Ancient Mariner on
January 10th, 2011 3:25 pm

Hey, if it’s a minor-league deal, he can spend the season in Tacoma, too.

Jordan on
January 10th, 2011 3:28 pm

In case you don’t read LL from ThundaPC: If we had Adam Kennedy last year, he would’ve been the 3rd best position player on the team.

That’s both depressing and encouraging as he’s our new floor.

Now, when can we say good bye to Tui/Mangini and the Wilson non-twins? Even though the off season is very underwhelming I love the Ryan trade and this signing. Future is already looking better.

The Ancient Mariner on
January 10th, 2011 3:29 pm

Oh, and as for backup plans at 1B, there’s Mike Carp, and isn’t Brad Nelson still in the organization?

I really like this move. Having options at questionable positions is never a bad thing.

Does anybody have any idea what we’re doing for a backup plan at 1B? I’m betting on Smoak to succeed, but what if not? And who spells him when he needs a game off?

I think the idea is to give Smoak a full season at first base without pressure from other players for playing time. The organization expects him to be a very good hitter and is moving forward under that assumption. As long as Smoak is healthy I don’t think there is much that would cause the M’s to take him out of the line-up, even if he stinks it up for a good chunk of the season.

I could see them calling Carp back up in the event of any extended absence or if he failed to get a hit in his first 300 at bats – but that would probably be the most likely move. If August hits and Smoak still isn’t hitting or isn’t healthy I suspect there will be a couple internal options at that stage that will be worth a look. This is one of many reasons that 2011 is likely to be a pretty wild (potentially scary, potentially intriguing) ride.

Does anybody have any idea what we’re doing for a backup plan at 1B? I’m betting on Smoak to succeed, but what if not? And who spells him when he needs a game off?

That’s an intriguing question, actually. I’m assuming Olivo could probably play a rare backup at 1st. Looks like he’s done it before.

caldog on
January 10th, 2011 5:58 pm

I believe Adam Kennedy played some first base for the A’s, so he could be a backup in a pinch.

lalo on
January 10th, 2011 7:29 pm

Does anybody have any idea what we’re doing for a backup plan at 1B? I’m betting on Smoak to succeed, but what if not? And who spells him when he needs a game off?

I think Justin Smoak will be an awesome player for our team, but anyway we need a backup for every position,(at least in Tacoma), and I think Mangini could be his backup, maybe Carp or Poythress too, but we can expect a 270,20 HR, OBP 340 from Smoak…, don´t worry about that

Jordan on
January 10th, 2011 7:32 pm

So if Bradley becomes a sunk cost couldn’t Langerhans become his replacement and the backup 1b?

It just seems w/o a viable option at 1b a player like Langerhans could be somewhat useful on the current roster.

Versatility is key, I just wish I didn’t have to consider Langerhans as potentially useful.

Gibbo on
January 10th, 2011 7:41 pm

I would really like us to get Willy Aybar, but this move looks like it decreases the chance of that happening…. he could back up at 1B/2B and 3RD, but I doubt that now. Good low risk move I guess, we still need another arm – who is that going to be? If only we could move Jack Wilsons 5M!!!

lalo on
January 10th, 2011 7:56 pm

we still need another arm – who is that going to be? If only we could move Jack Wilsons 5M!!!

Maybe Joe Beimel, Jeff Francis or Millwood, all three are interesting options for the rotation, specially if Bedard can´t play again…

Duncan Idaho on
January 10th, 2011 8:23 pm

I’d say Josh Wilson is looking at being released by the one months salary deadline in mid March.

Gibbo on
January 10th, 2011 8:26 pm

I’d say Josh Wilson is looking at being released by the one months salary deadline in mid March

Is that because he is on a non gauranteed contract? I was wondering what our options were with him?

Jordan on
January 11th, 2011 7:48 am

I’d say Josh Wilson is looking at being released by the one months salary deadline in mid March

What’s the earliest day we can call up Ackley assuming the Mariners are concerned w/ his service clock? I think that is the only way Josh is forced off the roster.

Tempered optimism: it appears the Mariners are a couple spare parts and Bedard, Pineda, Saunders and Moore mediocrity away from actually competing.

Regression is a beautiful thing.

wsm on
January 11th, 2011 8:18 am

Ackley only has to stay down for about 3 weeks in order for 2011 not to count as a year of service time. If they wait until after July 1, he probably won’t earn Super Two status after 2013.

The Kennedy signing essentially allows the team to keep Ackley down even longer if they wan’t to. Before bringing in Kennedy, an injury to Ryan or Jack Wilson meant that Ackley would be needed to fill a void in the lineup. Now that Kennedy is around, the team won’t be in that position. This makes it a lot more likely that Ackley will be up whenever the club truly feels he’s ready, not because of an imminent Jack Wilson injury.

I believe Kennedy has already made this team, barring a Spring Training catastrophe. He’d need some kind of assurance before signing this deal. That means Tui, Mangini, and Josh Wilson will likely battle it out for the last bench slot. My money would be on Tui since he’s the most “versatile” and his right-handed bat may be more useful off the bench with Kennedy and Bradley available from the left side already. It’ll be a real battle either way.

Arron on
January 11th, 2011 8:56 am

This signing means Tui, Mangini and Wilson are headed for Tacoma…if they only have 4 on the bench, which is likely, it will be Kennedy, Bradley, Moore, and the 4th outfielder.

Isn’t Bradley technically the 4th OF? Seems like the need is for a 1B/OF because we don’t have anyone behind Smoak, and because we really don’t want Bradley out there if we can avoid it.

My guess is the last bench slot goes to Langerhans.

Paul B on
January 11th, 2011 12:40 pm

But then again, he is also only two seasons removed from posting a .337 wOBA for the A’s in 2009.

This is exactly the kind of player Bavasi would have signed to a two year deal for $10 million.

Madison Mariner on
January 11th, 2011 1:37 pm

This signing means Tui, Mangini and Wilson are headed for Tacoma…

Well…

a. Matt Mangini still has options and could go to AAA and probably will, so yes, I agree on that one.

b. Matt Tuiasosopo is out of options, and the Kennedy signing makes it that more likely that Tui doesn’t make the 25-man roster out of spring training. So, either the M’s try to trade him, or they attempt to pass him through waivers next March and he doesn’t clear and is claimed(or does clear and is off the 40-man roster and heads to Tacoma anyway). So, that one is a question mark, I guess.

c. Josh Wilson will still be on the 25-man roster as far as I can see. With Smoak and Figgins the starters at 1B and 3B, respectively, that’s 2 IF spots taken. Brendan Ryan and Jack Wilson appear to have the 2B and SS jobs to lose with Ackley starting the season at AAA. That leaves 2 reserve IF spots. Now, insofar as I’ve typically understood it, there are 2 reserve IF spots, 1 reserve OF spot, and 1 backup catcher spot(sometimes the 2nd reserve infielder also plays the outfield as well.)

Those 2 reserve IF spots could conceivably go to Kennedy and Wilson, since I don’t think Kennedy can backup at SS at all anymore–at least it’s not a great idea for him to do so. Josh Wilson could back up at SS primarily, and also at 2B and the OF, while Kennedy could backup 1B, 2B, and 3B. And yeah, there’s really no one else to backup at 1B, is there? That also makes Milton Bradley the 4th OF, and possibly a backup at 1B as it stands right now, I guess.

(There’s also the fact that Wilson is far enough along in his MLB career that he is probably out of options, although I’m not clear on his situation at all.)

I suppose there’s the possiblity that Tui, who’s on the 40-man roster already, outplays Kennedy and is the other reserve IF/OF out of spring training. I know the M’s used Tui in LF last year at times(not necessarily a good idea, but they did). I’d rather have that final 4th bench spot go to someone who could backup several positions in both the IF and OF, and I’m not sure if that’s Kennedy, Tui, or Mangini.

(And, as others have mentioned, Josh Wilson’s contract, like many other arbitration-eligible players, is non-guaranteed, meaning he can be released next March with either 30 or 45 days termination pay. That’s also a possiblity.)

Chris_From_Bothell on
January 11th, 2011 1:41 pm

Now, insofar as I’ve typically understood it, there are 2 reserve IF spots, 1 reserve OF spot, and 1 backup catcher spot(sometimes the 2nd reserve infielder also plays the outfield as well.)

With Aardsma unable to start the season, and so much turnover in the bullpen in general, does this mean greater chance of larger bullpen but smaller bench?

Westside guy on
January 11th, 2011 2:48 pm

I’ll be happy if Tui and Paperboy aren’t on the M’s bench in 2011.

Jordan on
January 11th, 2011 3:12 pm

With Aardsma unable to start the season, and so much turnover in the bullpen in general, does this mean greater chance of larger bullpen but smaller bench?

4 bench spots is already assuming a 7 man bullpen. If the bullpen was in good shape I think we could see a 6-man pen at least for a little while, but I doubt we’ll go the other direction with an 8-man crew.

G-Man on
January 11th, 2011 6:11 pm

Ryan can slide to SS if needed, he’s played there more than 2B in recent years. That said, I know that moving a starter back and forth like that isn’t preferred.

They really could use a bench player with good OF skills, otherwise it is Bradley and Cust as the co-DH’s and the only backup OF options, and their Gold Gloves aren’t coming anytime soon.

I’d think the majority of the backup infielders could play first if needed, given the knowledge in spring training that they would fill that role, but Tui passing waivers to Tacoma would make life easier in case his versatility (jack of all trades, master of none) is needed in season.

bookbook on
January 11th, 2011 9:55 pm

Perhaps I’m delusional, but to my keen (and clueless) eye, Jack Wilson & Milton Bradley look a lot like sunk costs. It’s a longshot, but if I squint just right, I see Ryan at SS and Kennedy starting at 2b, with Wilson as super/injured sub at both. If you really want Ryan starting at SS for 3 years until Franklin is hopefully ready, is it wise to play him out of position at 2b where injury risk is greater for half of a lost year?
We’ve already witnessed how it might hurt a players offense to play out of position.

greentunic on
January 11th, 2011 10:54 pm

Does anyone know how Gold-Glove-type shorstops like Ryan typically do when moving to second? Do they lose some of their fielding magic or are the positions “similar enough” that it still shows through. I think we can agree 3B’s cant jump to 2B very often. But how Gold-Glovey will Ryan be at second?

msfanmike on
January 12th, 2011 10:49 am

(jack of all trades, master of none)

Well stated

is it wise to play him out of position at 2b where injury risk is greater for half of a lost year?

I think you are on to something and I think that something is related to why Ryan was probably acquired in the first place. I think it is more likely than ulikely that Ryan is being looked at to be the starting SS because of the inevitable injury/retirement/trade/injury/release or injury of Wilson occurring. The signing of Kennedy helps to solidify this prognostication. However, if Kennedy shows that he is no longer capable of getting it done, Ryan can play 2B until the inevitable Wilson “whatever event” occurs and until the inevitable callup of Ackley occurs shortly thereafter. The team is not counting on either Bradley or Wilson to produce anything and neither of them will likely be around for the entire season. They will be paid (and that is sad and unfortunate), but this too shall pass.

Ralph_Malph on
January 14th, 2011 9:49 am

(There’s also the fact that Wilson is far enough along in his MLB career that he is probably out of options, although I’m not clear on his situation at all.)

Does anyone think Wilson would be claimed if he was put on waivers to send him down? And would anyone care if he was?

heychuck01 on
January 14th, 2011 3:04 pm

Does anyone think Wilson would be claimed if he was put on waivers to send him down? And would anyone care if he was?